“Autism coverage mandate wins Virginia committee OK - msnbc.com” plus 1 more |
| Autism coverage mandate wins Virginia committee OK - msnbc.com Posted: 28 Jan 2011 07:57 AM PST RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia bill that would mandate some employee health plans to cover treatment for autism cleared a major legislative hurdle Thursday that has been the measure's killing field. Backed by Speaker William J. Howell, the House Commerce and Labor Committee voted 15-6 to report the bill for a floor vote, likely early next week. The measure would compel companies that employ 50 or more people and state government health plans to provide up to $35,000 per year in coverage for applied behavior analysis for autistic children ages 2 to 6. Psychiatric and medical officials say ABA is the most effective and promising for children with autism, but annual costs in the tens of thousands of dollars have either put the treatment out of reach for many middle-income households and wrecked others financially and emotionally. After the vote, parents of autistic children hugged and posed for photos to mark the unprecedented victory before a panel where powerful insurance and business lobbies had successfully targeted it before. "We're very grateful for the support we got this year from the leadership in the House," said Theresa Champion of the Virginia Autism Project, the mother of an autistic son. "We've got the most narrow bill we can possibly have and we've got the best that we're going to get in Virginia today," she said. The bill's chief sponsor, Del. Thomas A. Greason, R-Loudoun County, acknowledged as much in presenting his bill to the panel. Unlike his bill, last year's legislation was introduced with no yearly or lifetime limit on costs, and it applied to children ages 2 through 10. Some legislators were mindful of critics who warned that costs might soar, despite the annual expense cap and a provision in the bill that would allow any employer to opt out of autism coverage should its costs increase their premiums by more than 1 percent over any year. "There's legitimate concern within the business community," said Del. Robert Purkey, R-Virginia Beach, in considering a sunset clause that would end the coverage mandate after three years unless it's extended. In other states where autism treatment coverage has been mandated, costs have remained stable, Greason said. "The costs in the bill before us will not suddenly explode," he said. But the bill's limited scope didn't placate insurance and business lobbyists who worked for days behind the scenes, seeking to sidetrack the bill. They complained it would place undue burdens on business and suggested hypocrisy by Howell and other lawmakers who oppose federal health care mandates while imposing them at home. They made it clear they're taking names. "When allies change their position on something as important to small business as mandates, and do it without warning and without discussion, it deeply worries us," said Mike Thompson, chairman and president of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, a pro-business think tank, and a state board member of the National Federation of Independent Business. "Don't you see the disconnect when the honest concerns of business seem to be left in the dust by those who consider themselves pro-business," Thompson said. "NFIB and the Virginia Chamber (of Commerce) will be using this vote in their voting records this year as will many other groups." Howell rejected comparison of his opposition to the federal mandates and adding autism coverage to some policies in Virginia. "It's a mandate, but it's a reasonably priced mandate. It's not going to cost a lot of money," Howell said at a news conference. Reggie Jones, a lobbyist for the Virginia Association of Health Plans, argued that the $35,000 annual cap will most likely be meaningless because of federal mental health laws that supersede such caps. And that, he said, could cause costs to business to spiral. But supporters noted a study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the General Assembly's investigative arm, that estimated annual costs for covering ABA treatments would add only about 58 cents per month for each covered employee to the premium costs. The same study also showed that costs to Virginia government for adding the coverage for state employees would range from about $590,000 to $820,000. Assured that the cash will be available in the 2012 budget, the committee reported the bill directly to the House floor without detouring it to the writing Appropriations Committee. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Lawmakers get an earful on proposed cuts in health services - msnbc.com Posted: 28 Jan 2011 01:11 PM PST BOISE -- People from around Idaho converged on the Statehouse Friday morning to talk to the lawmakers who will soon write up a budget proposal for the Department of Health and Welfare. Major budget cuts are in the forecast for 2012, but where the cuts will come from is still up for debate. This hearing was only the second time that the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, or JFAC, gave the public an opportunity to testify. And like last time, hundreds of people showed up to speak. Budgets are typically about dollars and cents, but Friday morning, deciding on the budget for the Department of Health and Welfare, became more complicated. "I just hope that they would look at the people and not just the numbers," said Annette Lutes. With every dollar allocated or held back there is an Idahoan that will be affected. "I hope that they take an understanding of what the impact of the cuts will have for those individuals with disabilities," said Lutes. One by one, people stood and delivered their message to JFAC. "What we really want to see happen is people to look at the human costs. The individuals we take care of, they feel the stress of this too," said Terri Crowther. Some testified on behalf of others, while some spoke for themsleves on issues ranging from adoption to home health care. "It's just very important that people in my situation can live as independently as possible and not end up in a nursing homes," said Greg Renshaw. Testimony ranged from pleas not to cut certain programs - to ideas to bring in more money. "Obviously they got a very difficult task. There's no question about it, and they need to look at all the options, and any options that are viable, they need to consider," said Kevin Nye. Political analyst David Adler with the University of Idaho attended the hearing. "You have to give great credit to legislators for holding this kind of hearing," said Adler. "It's democracy in action. It reflects transparency and openness, and I hope it's precedent setting, and I hope this is a thing, a sign of things to come." Richard Armstrong, the Director of Health and Welfare, also attended the meeting. "We don't control the revenue side, so all I can do is propose what would be the best ways of controlling the budget with the least risk to the individuals and to society," said Armstrong. And while money really is what funds the programs, those who testified reminded lawmakers that the people aren't just numbers. "I hope that realize that by seeing the breadth of the problem with all of the people that would all be so negatively affected by the cuts they are considering," said Nye. More than 140 people signed up to testify at the hearing that lasted around four hours. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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